How Public Holidays Work in Brazil
Brazil has 10 national holidays (feriados nacionais). Carnival and Corpus Christi are "pontos facultativos" — optional days off that most businesses still take.
States and cities add their own holidays, such as São Paulo's Constitutionalist Revolution Day (9 July) and each city's patron saint day.
All Brazil Holidays in 2012
| Date | Holiday | About |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 1 | New Year's DayConfraternização Universal | New Year, celebrated on beaches in white clothing. |
| Mon, Feb 20 | Carnival MondayCarnavalOptional day off | Optional day off (ponto facultativo) during the famous Carnival. |
| Tue, Feb 21 | Carnival TuesdayCarnavalOptional day off | Last day of Carnival before Ash Wednesday. |
| Fri, Apr 6 | Good FridaySexta-feira Santa | National holiday before Easter Sunday. |
| Sat, Apr 21 | Tiradentes DayTiradentes | Honors independence hero Joaquim José da Silva Xavier. |
| Tue, May 1 | Labour DayDia do Trabalho | Workers' Day. |
| Thu, Jun 7 | Corpus ChristiOptional day off | Optional day off; streets are decorated with colorful sawdust carpets. |
| Fri, Sep 7 | Independence DayIndependência do Brasil | Independence from Portugal in 1822, with military parades. |
| Fri, Oct 12 | Our Lady of AparecidaNossa Senhora Aparecida | Brazil's patron saint; also Children's Day. |
| Fri, Nov 2 | All Souls' DayFinados | Families visit cemeteries to honor the dead. |
| Thu, Nov 15 | Republic Proclamation DayProclamação da República | Marks the end of the monarchy in 1889. |
| Tue, Dec 25 | Christmas DayNatal | Celebrates the birth of Jesus; the main feast is on Christmas Eve. |
Click a date to see it on the monthly calendar.
Long Weekends in 2012
- Good Friday Apr 6 – Apr 8 · 3 days
- Labour Day bridge day: take Mon, Apr 30 offApr 28 – May 1 · 4 days
- Independence Day Sep 7 – Sep 9 · 3 days
- Our Lady of Aparecida Oct 12 – Oct 14 · 3 days
- All Souls' Day Nov 2 – Nov 4 · 3 days
- Republic Proclamation Day bridge day: take Fri, Nov 16 offNov 15 – Nov 18 · 4 days
- Christmas Day bridge day: take Mon, Dec 24 offDec 22 – Dec 25 · 4 days
With 3 vacation days on the bridge days above you get 12 days off in total.2 holidays fall on a weekend without a substitute day this year.
Plan 2012 Around These Holidays
Add your vacation and bridge days to a calendar, then export it as a printable PDF. For the full year at a glance see the 2012 calendar.
Open Calendar Builder